- Sowunmi argued that if former President Goodluck Jonathan did not declare a state of emergency in Borno State, President Bola Tinubu’s administration should not do so in Osun.
Segun Sowunmi, a senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chiefty, has rejected the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s demand for a state of emergency in Osun.
He was responding to the ongoing crisis that erupted after sacked APC LG chairpersons attempted to reclaim their offices.
Sowunmi appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today, saying the president should have supported Adeleke to prevent the violence.
Sowunmi asked the APC to abandon the idea of silencing the opposition.
Sowunmi stated, “It was rumoured that some fellows are deceiving themselves to declare a state of emergency in Osun. For what and why?”
He cited Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s handling of the Borno crisis, (Chibok girls), saying a state of emergency was not declared.
Sowunmi emphasized that the president should have instructed Oyetola to respect the law. Instead, the situation escalated into violence.
Sowunmi argued that the country cannot become a one-party state.
The crisis began when the APC chairpersons, who claimed to have been reinstated by the court, tried to return to office.
However, the PDP argued that the court’s judgment did not reinstate them. On Monday, violence broke out at some LG secretariats in Osun, resulting in casualties.
The PDP claimed the February 10 court of appeal judgment in Akure did not reinstate the sacked chairpersons and councillors elected in 2022. In contrast, the APC insisted they were reinstated.
Ajibola Basiru, APC national secretary, asked the federal government to declare a state of emergency.
Basiru said, “I will suggest that perhaps it will be necessary for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency. It has gotten to that stage where hapless people coming from farms are attacked by uncontrollable PDP thugs.”
Governor Ademola Adeleke blamed his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola, for the chaos and asked President Bola Tinubu to intervene.
Adeleke urged the president to direct the national security adviser and attorney general to resolve the crisis.
Osun, with 30 LGAs, witnessed APC chairpersons and councillors taking control of at least 14 local government secretariats amidst rising tension in the south-west state.
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